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In last two decades, developing countries have implemented a wide
range of energy sector reform initiatives, which were expected to,
inter alia, address some of the above concerns. Initial indications
from a wide range of developing countries, however, seem to indicate
that few of these reform initiatives have resulted in significant
improvement in the provision of cleaner energy services to the world's
poor.
What is particularly worrisome about the above challenges is the
deterioration in quality and reliability of energy services available
to the poor in spite of numerous energy reform initiatives. This is
particular true of sub-Saharan Africa (and parts of Latin America &
the Caribbean, Middle East and South Asia) where reliance on
traditional biofuels is increasing and the proportion of the people
with no access to electricity continues to grow.
Some experts contend that far from reducing energy poverty, reforms
have contributed to the growing problem of energy poverty in many
parts of the developing world. The experts argue that from the onset,
energy reforms were not designed to address the energy problems of the
poor but were explicitly aimed at improving efficiency, facilitating
divestiture and guaranteeing future energy supply in an open
globalized energy market.
The primary objective of the GNESD Working Group on " Energy Access"
is to examine the above issue by responding to the following two key
questions:
 | Have previous energy policy reforms addressed the
"energy access" challenge facing the poor or have the reforms
actually contributing to the growing problem of inadequate energy
services for the poor in the developing world ? |
| Based on rigorous analysis, which are the proven
and robust policy options that would lead to improved, cleaner and
more sustainable energy services for the poor in developing
countries ? |
In late 2002 a Working Group comprising of eight
Centres of Excellence started with an assessment of current experience
in their sub-regions focusing on the impact of energy policy reforms
on the poor. The same framework and indicators was used by all centres
allowing comparisons across energy sub-sectors, countries and
sub-regions. Theme work was based on three pillars:
| A sub-regional perspective with each centre
covering 2-3 countries. |
| A focus on electricity. This can either be on or
off grid connections. |
| Use of empirical evidence with pre and post data
available. |
Few studies have until now attempted to assess the
impact of reforms on the poor or provide the requisite empirical
evidence. GNESD fills this important gap by presenting a systematic
empirically based study of the impact of power sector reforms on the
poor in different developing countries using a common and comparable
set of impact indicators. Results of the Working Group were presented
at the first annual Network Assembly in November 2003 and all outcomes
from the Working Group are freely available from this website.
Outcomes from the "Energy Access" Working Group covers common
publications and sub regional reports based on each Centre's theme
work. Technical reports from each Centre and the common publications
are available under the Publications section.
The publications are aimed at policy makers in the developing world as
well as decision-makers in agencies and banks involved in
international and regional development. The outputs are also of
interest to energy policy analysts and researchers in both the South
and the North.
The Theme coordinator is Steven Karekezi of AFREPREN, Kenya.
in late 2003 the GNESD Steering Committee decided to continue work in
a phase II of the Energy Access theme.
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